Cream Cheese Brownies:Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) and place the rack in the center of the oven. Have ready a9 x 9 inch (23 x 23 cm) square baking pan that has been lined with aluminum foil across the bottom and up two opposite sides of the pan. 

In a stainless steel (heatproof) bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water, melt the butter and chocolate. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar and vanilla extract. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well (with a wooden spoon) after each addition. Stir in the flour and salt and beat, with a wooden spoon, until the batter is smooth and glossy and comes away from the sides of the pan (about one minute). Remove 1/2 cup of the brownie batter and set it aside. Place the remainder of the brownie batter evenly onto the bottom of the prepared pan.

Then, in the bowl of your food processor (or with a hand mixer), process the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar, vanilla, and egg and process just until creamy and smooth. Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the brownie layer. Spoon small dollops of the reserved brownie batter evenly on top of the cream cheese filling. Then with a table knife or wooden skewer, swirl the two batters without mixing them.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until the brownies start to pull away from the sides of the pan and the edges of the brownies are just beginning to brown. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Refrigerate the brownies until they are firm enough to cut into squares (at least two hours). Once chilled, remove the brownies from the pan by lifting with the ends of the foil and transfer to a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut into 16 squares. It is a good idea to have a damp cloth nearby to wipe your knife between cuts. These brownies can be stored in the refrigerator for several days.

Makes about 16 - 2 inch squares.

Brownie Layer:

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

4 ounces (115 grams) unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 1/4 cups (250 grams) granulated white sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1/2 cup (65 grams) all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Layer:

8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature

1/3 cup (65 grams) granulated white sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 large egg

Shortbreads:In a separate bowl whisk the flour with the salt.  Set aside.

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute). Add the sugar and beat until smooth (about 2 minutes).  Beat in the vanilla extract. Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated.  Flatten the dough into a disk shape, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill the dough for at least an hour.  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) with the rack in the middle of the oven.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

On a lightly floured surface roll out the doughinto a 1/4 inch (.6 cm) thick circle.  Cut into rounds or other shapes using a lightly floured cookie cutter.  Place on the prepared baking sheets and place in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes. (This will firm up the dough so the cookies will maintain their shape when baked.) Bake for 8 - 10 minutes, or until cookies are very lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

For Chocolate Dipped Shortbreads:Place 3 ounces (90 grams) of the finely chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl and place it over a saucepan of simmering water. Once the chocolate has melted, remove it from the heat. Add the remaining chocolate and stir with a wooden spoon until it has completely melted and is smooth and glossy. Taking one cookie at a time, dip one end of each cookie in the melted chocolate and place it on a parchment lined baking sheet. Once all the cookies have been dipped in the chocolate, place the baking sheets in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes, or until the chocolate has hardened.

Shortbread cookies with keep in an airtight container for about a week or they can be frozen.

Shortbread Cookies:

2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon (2 grams) salt

1 cup (2 sticks) (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered (confectioners or icing) sugar

1 teaspoon (4 grams) pure vanilla extract

For Chocolate Dipped Shortbreads:

6 ounces (180 grams) semi sweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

Chocolate Sugar Cookies:  In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. 
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 to 4 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined. Add the flour mixture and beat until you have a smooth dough.
Divide the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about one hour or until firm enough to roll.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 
Remove one half of the chilled dough from the refrigerator and, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch (1 cm). (Keep turning the dough as you roll, making sure the dough does not stick to the counter.)  Cut out desired shapes using a lightly floured cookie cutter and transfer cookies to the prepared baking sheet. Place the baking sheets with the unbaked cookies in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes to chill the dough which prevents the cookies from spreading and losing their shape while baking.
Note: If you are not going to frost the baked cookies, you may want to sprinkle the unbaked cookies with crystal or sparkling sugar. 
Bake cookies for about 10  - 12 minutes (depending on size) or until they are firm around the edges. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling. Frost with royal icing, if desired. Be sure that the frosting on the cookies dries completely before storing. (This may take several hours.) Frosted cookies will keep several days in an airtight container. Store between layers of parchment paper or wax paper.
Makes about 36 - 4 inch (10 cm) cookies.
For Royal Icing with Egg Whites: In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the egg whites with the lemon juice. Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth. Mix in food coloring, if desired. The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.
For Royal Icing with Meringue Powder: In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the confectioners' sugar and meringue powder until combined.  Add the water and beat on medium to high speed until very glossy and stiff peaks form (5 to 7 minutes). If necessary, to get the right consistency, add more powdered sugar or water. Mix in food coloring, if desired. To cover or 'flood' the entire surface of the cookie with icing, the proper consistency is when you lift the beater, the ribbon of icing that falls back into the bowl remains on the surface of the icing for a few seconds before disappearing.
The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.

Chocolate Sugar Cookies:
2 3/4 cups (355 grams) all purpose flour
3/4 cup (75 grams) unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon (4 grams) baking powder
1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cups (350 grams) granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Royal Icing Using Egg Whites:
2 large (60 grams) egg whites
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3 cups (345 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
or

Royal Icing Using Meringue Powder:

4 cups (440 grams) confectioners' (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted

3 tablespoons (30 grams) meringue powder

1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)

1/2 cup - 3/4 cup (120 - 180 ml)  warm water

Food Coloring (I use Gel Pastes that can be found at cake decorating and party stores or else on-line)

Chocolate Chip Cookies:Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) with rack in center of oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add the white and brown sugars and beat until fluffy (about 2 minutes). Beat in eggs, one at a time, making sure to beat well after each addition. Add the vanilla and beat until incorporated.Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and beat until incorporated, adding the chocolate chips and nuts (if using) about half way through mixing. If you find the dough very soft, cover and refrigerate until firm (about 30 minutes).  

For large cookies, use about a 2 tablespoon ice cream scoop or with two spoons, drop about 2 tablespoons of dough (35 grams) onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake about 12 - 14 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges. Cool completely on wire rack.

Makes about 4 dozen - 3 inch round cookies.

Note: You can freeze this dough. Form the dough into balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Freeze and then place the balls of dough in a plastic bag, seal, and freeze. When baking, simply place the frozen balls of dough on a baking sheet and bake as directed - may have to increase baking time a few minutes.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe:

1 cup (2 sticks) (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar

3/4cup (160 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 1/4cups (295 grams) all-purpose flour

1teaspoon baking soda

1/2teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups (270 grams) semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup (100 grams) walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped (optional)

What I Feel About After Watching Nick Vujicic Video

When I watch the video I feel upset a little bit because I’m very lucky that I still have a legs and hand. I am so grateful and appreciate what I have now. Beside that, I feel that I want to change a little bit. Why? Because I feel that before I see that video I am not really good, I’m a bad girl and very bad. Why? I like t bullying people, like to complaining and more things. But after watching that video I also learn something, that is when you fall or failed, you should get back and try again and again and again. Let me tell you something about me before. On 2008 I was taking Engineering and he also the same class with me but I am not defeat him I want to say here about my subject. Well, I am taking engineering drawing for two years. From 1^st I take that subject I already failed and I think I will failed forever. I done my course work very good but too sad that what I have done in my exam is not very good. I failed, I didn’t pass. My brain start working to think negative side. Why? Because I keep failed and never pass. So when my teacher give us homework I never done because my mind said that I will not pass. But the good thing is I attend that class as usual, I never show that I started don’t even like this subject anymore. I keep pretending until the SPM exam came. Wow, everyone surprise when the Engineering Drawing I didn’t came. I didn’t show myself because I don’t have confidence in myself so why do have to seat on that exam, right? But that is old story. If I could turn back, I will seat my exam even though I am afraid to failed. I will get back and fight. So now I will not thinking like that again. That’s the end of my story. 

TENSES

Simple Present Tense

œ Present Tense expresses an unchanging, repeated / re – occurring  action / situation that exist only now also known as widespread truth.

œ The Simple Present Tense is used to describe an action, an event or condition that is occurring in the present, at the moment of speaking or writing. It is used when the precise beginning or ending of a present action, event / condition is unknown or is unimportant to the meaning of the sentence.

œ There are two forms of the verb in the simple present tense base and s-form. Verbs in the base form are used in plural nouns / pronouns. While verbs in the s-form are used in singular nuns / pronouns.

œ Examples:

Base Forms	S-Forms
I wait, you run	She waits, Abu runs

œ There are 3 forms of the verb ‘be’....am, is and are.

œ Examples:

*       I am happy.

*       You are invited.

*       Anne is beautiful.

Simple Past Tense

©     The Simple Past Tense expresses an action or a condition completed in the past.

©     The Simple Past is used to describe an action, an event /  condition that occurred in the past, sometime before the moment of speaking / writing.

©     Verbs divided 2 groups, depending on the way they form the past tense, the past participles. First is the regular verbs,  they form their past tense by adding -ed / -d to the form of the present tense.

©     Examples:

§  Claim – claimed

§  Boil – boiled

§  Announce – announced

©     The other 1 is irregular verbs. They form their past tense by adding -n / -en or changing their spelling.

§  Become – became

§  Fly – flew

§  Grow – grew

§  Take – took

§  Run – ran

§  Do – did

Simple Future Tense

Ø The Simple Future Tense expresses an action that has not yet taken place.

Ø Is used to refer to actions that will take place after the act of speaking / writing.

Ø In forming the future tense of a verb, we use the auxiliary verbs shall / will with the base form of the verb. Will is used in all persons while shall is used instead of will in the 1^st person.

Ø 3 ways 2 express future tense

·        Future tense is formed by using: will / shall + verb base

·        Examples: The classes will start at 8 am.

·        Also be expressed by using: am / is / are + going to –verb base

·        Examples: Michelle is going to attend a meeting next week.

Ø Maybe expressed using the simple present form of the verb with an adverb / adverbial phrase that shows future time: verb base / s-form + adverb of time

Ø Examples:

·        The teacher gives quiz next meeting.

Present Perfect Tense

œ Is used for an action that began in the past continues into present.

œ Describes an action that happened at your indefinite time in the past / that began in the past and continues in the present. Formed by using: has / have + past participle of the main verb.

œ Has is always used in the 3^rd persons singular.

œ Changing regular verbs into past participle, we add –d / -ed.

œ Examples:

·        Jump – jumped

·        Walk – walked

œ In charging irregular verbs into past participle, we add –n / -en or change spelling of the verb.

œ Example:

·        Rise – risen

·        Be – been

·        Eat – eaten

Past Perfect Tense

Ø Also be used for an action that started in the past and has been completed at some indefinite time.

Ø Used to refer actions that took place and were completed in the past: had + past participle of the main verb

Ø Examples:

·        The heat wave has lasted three weeks.

Future Perfect Tense

Ø Used for an action that began and end in the future before a particular time.

Ø Refer to an action. Formed by using: will + have + past participle of the main verb.

Ø Example:

§  The will have written their first exam by the time we get out of bed.

Present Continuous Tense

v Describes an ongoing action that is happening at the same time the statement is written. Formed by using: am / is / are +  -ing form of the verb.

v Examples:

*       I am hoping for a good grade.

Past Progressive Tense

ü Used to describe actions ongoing in the past.

ü Formed by combining the auxiliary verb with the present particular of verb ( -ing form): was / were + -ing form of the main verb

ü Example:

§  I was singing when you came.

Future Progressive Tense

§     Used to describe actions ongoing in the future. (Will + be + -ing form of the verb)

§     Example:

ª     Lee will be working on the computer system for the next two weeks.

Present Perfect Progressive

œ Used to described an action, event or condition that has begun in the past and continues into the present. (has / have + been + -ing form of the main verb)

œ Example:

§  The dog has been barking for 3 hours.

Past Perfect Progressive

©     Used to indicate that a continuing action in the past began before another past action begin or interrupted the 1^st action. (had + been + -ing form of the main verb)

©     Example:

·        We had been talking about repainting the front room for three years.

Future Perfect Progressive

v Used to indicate a continuing action that will be completed at some specified time in the future. (will + have + been + -ing form of the main verb)

v Example:

·        I will have been studying Greek for 3 years by the end of this term.

PARTS OF SPEECH

§     Open Class

Ø Nouns

Ø Verbs

Ø Adjectives

Ø Adverbs

§     Closed Class

Ø Pronouns

Ø Prepositions

Ø Conjunctions

Ø Determiners

Ø Interjection

NOUN

z A word which names a person, place or thing.

z There are generally four classes of nouns.

Class of Noun	Definition	Examples
Common Nouns	Common names shared by everything of the same kind	Sons, bird, villages, horses, country
Proper Nouns	Names of particular people, animals, places or things (countries, cities, towns, villages, rivers, ships, streets, mountains, months, days, festivals & names of institutions)	Anita, Johannesburg, Asian Tourism International College, Christmas, etc
Collective Nouns	Refer to a group of things that are regarded as one, collection of persons, places, activities & concepts	Congregation, jury, team, staff, audience, herd
Abstract Nouns	Denote a quality, a feeling, an action or a state of mind             (things which are intangible & cannot be counted)	Efficiency, admiration, beauty, honesty, respect

z Most of nouns are common nouns and do not begin with a capital letter.

z Proper nouns are nouns which begin with a capital letter because it is the name of a specific or particular person place or thing.

F If you see the word beginning with a capital letter in the middle of a sentence, it is probably a proper noun.

F Mexico, John F. Kennedy, Atlantic Ocean, February, Monday, New York City, Susan, Maple Street, Burger King

z Many nouns have a special plural form if there is more than one.

œ For example,

œ We say one book but two books. Plurals are usually formed by adding an –s (books) or –es (boxes)

œ Some plurals are formed in different ways

œ (child-children, person-people, mouse-mice, sheep-sheep)

PRONOUN

ü Definition: A pronoun is a word that is used in place of a noun.

ü Examples: I, it, you, he, she, we, him, them, whom, someone, everyone, none, anybody, that

ü 1^st Person Singular: I, you

ü 1^st Person Plural: You, we

ü 3^rd Person Singular: He, she, it (Present tense & verb have to change)

ü Examples:

·        3^rd Person Singular: He goes to school. (verb: goes-went)

·        1^st Person Singular: I go to school. (verb: go)

VERB

Þ   A word which shows action or state of being

Þ   Every sentence must have a verb

Þ   Action verbs (transitive and intransitive)

Þ   Non-actions verbs (be verbs and linking verbs)

Þ   Action:

*       I write the essay. (wrote)

Þ   State of Being

*       She is a beautiful girl. (be verb: is, am, are, was, were)

Þ   Examples:

*       The dog bite the man. (bite is the verb and the word which shows the action of the sentence.)

*       The man sitting on a chair. (even though the action doesn’t show much activity, sitting is the verb of the sentence.)

*       She is a smart girl. (there is no action but a state of being expressed by the verb is and the word be is different from other verbs in many ways but can still be thought of as a verb.)

ACTION VERBS

v An action verb expresses that someone or something does (examples: run, talk, eat, write, work, give)

v Examples:

v His mother sings him a lullaby.

v She hugs him tightly and kisses his cheeks. (tightly-adverb)

v The baby looks at his mother.

v He laughs and gurgles contentedly. (contentedly-adverb)

v His mother gazes at him adoringly. (adoringly-adverb)

v It can be written in several forms:

Carry	Carried	To carry	Will have carried
Carries	Was carrying	May carry	Must have carried
Am carrying	Were carrying	Should carry	Should have carried
Is carrying	Has carried	Can carry	Had been carrying
Are carrying	Have carried	Must carry	Had carried
	Shall carry	Will carry

v Transitive Verbs

·        A transitive verb (V) requires an object (O), and the object comes after the verb.

My mother built(V) a tree-house(O) in the garden.

Adam often buys(V) presents(O) for his family.

The players blamed(V) the coach(O) for their defeat.

v Intransitive Verbs

·        A transitive verb does not require an object. A sentence with an IV is complete without an object.

The beautiful actress smiled(V).

Terri sleeps(V) like a log.

Diamonds gleam(V) and sparkle(V).

v Non Action Verbs ‘To Be’ / Be –am, is, are, was, were been, being

Subject	Present	Past	Perfect (Past Participle)	Progressive (Present participle)
I	Am	Was	Have been	Am being
We	Are	Were	Have been	Are being
You	Are	Were	Have been	Are being
They	Are	Were	Have been	Are being
He	Is	Was	Has been	Is being
She	Is	Was	Has been	Is being
It	Is	Was	Has been	Is being

v Non Action Verbs ‘To be’ / Be –am, is, are, was, were been, being

·        Usually comes immediately after the subject in statements. It takes a different form after different subjects.

I am	confident	I was	tired
He		He
She is	Exhausted	She
It		It
We		We were	shy
They are	Intelligent	They
You		You

v Linking Verbs

·        Used to link the subject of a sentence with a complement.

Expressing feeling & thought		Expressing Possession	Expressing sensory perception
Appear	Seem	Own	Feel
Believe	Need	Owe	Hear
Know	mean	Have	Look
Understand	Hate	Posses	See
Like	Prefer	Belong	Smell
Love	Dislike		Taste
Recognise	remember

·        Verbs change their form

ü Sometimes endings are added (learn-learned)

ü Sometimes the word itself becomes different (teach-taught)

ü The different forms of verbs show different meanings related to such things as:

a.     Tense (past, present, future)

b.     Person (first person, second person, third person)

c.      Number (singular, plural)

d.     Voice (active, passive)

AN ADJECTIVE

z Modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying or quantifying words.

z An adjective usually precedes the noun or the pronoun which it modifies.

z Examples:

F The truck-shaped balloon floated over the treetops.

F Mrs. Morrison papered her kitchen walls with hideous wall paper.

F The small boat foundered on the wine dark sea.

F The coal mines are dark and dank.

F Many stores have already begun to play irritating Christmas music.

F A battered music box sat on the mahogany sideboard.

F The back room was filled with large, yellow rain boots.

z Adjectives

THE ROYAL ORDER OF ADJECTIVES

Determiner	Observation	Physical Description				Origin	Material	Qualifier	Noun
		Size	Shape	Age	Colour
A	Beautiful			Old		Italian		Touring	Car
An	Expensive			antique			Silver		Mirror
Four	Gorgeous		Long-stemmed		Red		Silk		Roses
Her			Short		Black				Hair
Our		Big		Old		English			Sheepdog
Those			Square				Wooden	Hat	Boxes
That	Dilapidated	Little						Hunting	Cabin
Several		enormous		young		American		Basketball	Players
Some	delicious					Thai			Food

z Examples:

*       An expensive small new black pencil case.

*       A pretty slim young lady washing car.

*       Some delicious white Japanese food.

*       An expensive small round new gold watch.

*       Her beautiful long new pink dress.

*       That cute little boy crying.

AN ADVERB

œ Can modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a phrase or a clause.

œ An adverb indicates manner, time, place, cause or degree and answer questions such as “how”, “when”, “where”, “how much”.

œ Unlike an adjective, an adverb can be found in various places within the sentence.

œ Examples:

§  The seamstress quickly made the mourning clothes. ( In this sentence, the adverb “quickly” modifies the verb “made” and indicates in what manner (or how fast) the clothing was constructed.)

§  The midwives waited patiently through a long labour. ( Similarly in this sentence, the adverb “patiently” modifies the verb “waited” and describes the manner in which the midwives waited.)

§  The boldly spoken words would return to haunt the rebel. ( In this sentence the adverb “boldly” modifies the adjectives “spken”.)

PREPOSITION

ü Connects a noun or pronoun to the rest of the sentence

ü A preposition is a word that shows the relation between two or more things. Some prepositions are to, at, by, on, in into ... Prepositions are positional words.

ü Examples:

Ø The book is on the table.

Ø The book is beneath the table.

Ø The book is leaning against the table.

Ø The book is over the table.

Ø She read the book during class.

INTERJECTION

v Shows strong emotions

v Interjections are really followed by exclamation marks

v An interjection is a word that expresses strong emotion. Interjections can be followed by a comma or an exclamation point.

v Examples:

F Wow! I never knew that.

F Oh, I didn’t do that?

CONJUNCTIONS

§     A conjunction is a word that join words, groups of words or complete sentences of equal value.

§     Examples:

                                i.            Lucy and Ed left the door open.

                              ii.            He is going to school, but I am going to work.

                            iii.            He is going to school; however, I am going to work.

§     Subordinating conjunctions are words that make one group of words (dependent clause) dependent upon another group of words (independent clause). The group of words beginning with a subordinating conjunction would be a sentence fragment by itself.

§     Examples:

                                i.            When I came in, he left. ( Fragment: When I came in.)

                              ii.            He left because he was late. ( Fragment: because he was late.)

§     Conjunctions examples:

§  FANBOYS

F	A	N	B	O	Y	S
For	And	Nor	But	Or	Yet	So